Local Area Schools Win Blue Ribbon Awards

The U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement to high levels. Every year a prestigious few schools across the nation are awarded a Blue Ribbon and are honored at a ceremony in Washington, DC. Each school receives a plaque and flag signifying their status, these schools serve as models for other schools throughout the nation.

The program requires schools to meet either of two assessment criteria:

· have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance in accordance with state assessment systems
· It recognizes schools that; and it rewards schools that score in the top 10 percent on state assessments

Of the schools submitted by each state, at least one-third must meet the first criterion of having 40 percent of the students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The program allows both elementary and secondary schools to be recognized in the same year.

On September 15 2009, the 2009 National Blue Ribbon Schools were announced by U. S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. 314 public and private schools will be honored at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., November 2-3. Of the 314 schools receiving the award, 13 Chicago area schools are honored:


Elementary Schools:

Arcadia Elementary School
20519 Arcadian Way
Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1396
Phone: (708) 747-3535

Central Elementary School
900 Central
Wilmette, IL 60091-2608
Phone: (847) 251-3252


Ira Rupley Elementary School
305 East Oakton Street
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007-1727
Phone: (847) 593-4353


Madison Elementary School
611 S Madison Street
Hinsdale, IL 60521-3982
Phone: (630) 887-1390

Stevenson Elementary School
2106 Arrowhead Drive
Bloomington, IL 61704-2357
Phone: (309) 663-2351

Windsor Elementary School
1315 E. Miner Street
Arlington Heights, IL 60004-6339
Phone: (847) 398-4297



Middle Schools:

Clarendon Hills Middle School
301 Chicago Avenue
Clarendon Hills, IL 60514-2608
Phone: (630) 887-4260

Clifford Crone Middle School
4020 111th Street
Naperville, IL 60564-5027
Phone: (630) 428-5600

Hinsdale Middle School
100 S Garfield Street
Hinsdale, IL 60521-4252
Phone: (630) 887-1370


Woodlawn Middle School
6362 Gilmer Road
Long Grove, IL 60047-5171
Phone: (847) 353-8500



High Schools:

Deerfield High School
1959 Waukegan Road
Deerfield, IL 60015-1430
Phone: (224) 632-3000

New Trier Township High School
385 Winnetka Avenue
Winnetka, IL 60093-4238
Phone: (847) 446-7000


Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
211 S Laflin Street
Chicago, IL 60607-5305
Phone: (773) 534-7500

Congratulations to the students, faculty, and parents in these schools and communities for their hard work and commitment to excellence in education.